MORNING BRIEFING

So, Tony, girls don't know how to skate?

Skateboarding legend and millionaire businessman Tony Hawk has soared high and landed hard for years.

Nothing has intimidated him -- until now.

Hawk, who has three sons, and wife Lhotse are proud parents of a daughter, Kadence Clover, who was born June 30. Said Hawk to Success magazine:

"With three sons, I know what they like and how to make them laugh. It's a bit scary and exciting to have a daughter. I'm actually looking forward to hosting a tea party with her. Hey, I like tea, so it shouldn't be hard, right?"

Trivia time

Last season Shaquille O'Neal shot 50.5% from the free-throw line. What was his percentage in his 1992-93 rookie season?

Still hurts

Last week in this space an item appeared on a reporter from the Tuscaloosa (Ala.) News trying to increase readership by stepping into the ring with an Olympic boxer.

Richard Whorton says this tactic is not new. His late father once worked for the Los Angeles Times and in 1940 went toe to toe for three minutes with Henry Armstrong.

Of course, he subsequently spent several seconds gazing up from the canvas. But he got his story.

The headline: "Scribe 'Interviews' Triple Champ in Ring."

Ugly math

Estero High in Florida lost to Naples, 91-0, last week, leaving both coaches feeling poorly, because the winners did not intentionally run up the score but still scored 13 touchdowns.

Said Estero defensive line coach Pat Hayes: "I didn't even know 91 was a multiple of seven."

When pigs fly

A question after the Phillies beat the Dodgers to make the World Series was how their center fielder celebrated. Did the Maui-born Shane Victorino eat Spam, a popular item among Hawaiians?

Victorino is being targeted by the animal rights group People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, which cites mistreatment of pigs in the making of Spam.

"We suspect that the cruelty in every can of Spam will infuriate Shane more than a high Hiroki Kuroda fastball," PETA said in a statement.

(Not so) friendly journalism

ESPN the Magazine has a corny last-word segment in which it lists 10 current events with comments. No. 1: "NL-Centr-Ill" Comment: "Cubs pennant dreams dashed again. But think about it, Wrigley faithful: If you'd won, you'd been just another champ. Now you're still special."

Outclassed

A Washington State player said Oregon State Coach Mike Riley showed "no class" after the Beavers scored late in a 66-13 rout of the Cougars.

This leads one to wonder what the Cougars might say about USC Coach Pete Carroll today, after the Trojans ravage the defenseless team from the Pacific Northwest.

Trivia answer

O'Neal made 59.2% of his free throws as a rookie.

And finally

Mike Downey of the Chicago Tribune, on humiliation after the Cubs' quick exit from postseason play:

"Humiliation would be Tampa Bay winning a World Series instead of you. It would be a used Ford Pinto winning the Indy 500. It would be a chimpanzee on a tricycle winning the Tour de France."